If you’re living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and have low vision, cooking will probably require some adjustments. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to stay safe while preparing the meals you enjoy.

AMD is an eye disease that damages the macula, which is in the center of the retina at the back of the eye. In people with dry AMD and wet AMD — the two main types of AMD — central vision is affected and reduces your ability to see what’s directly in front of you.

Symptoms of AMD include blurry vision, trouble seeing in low light, straight lines appearing wavy, changes in how colors look, and blind spots. If dry AMD develops into geographic atrophy or wet AMD, more serious vision changes can occur. Impaired central vision can make many daily activities difficult, including cooking.

Here are some cooking tips to help you or a loved one with AMD prepare food safely.

1. Keep Your Kitchen Well Organized and Well Lit

It’s always helpful to have an organized kitchen, but when you have low vision, it’s even more important. You may want to ask a family member, friend, or caregiver to help you organize your kitchen.

Keep items that you often use in the front of shelves. You may want to use large-print labels on drawers and cabinets so you can easily find the items you need. You can also use large-print or braille labels for food items.

It’s always helpful to have an organized kitchen, but when you have low vision, it’s even more important.

Avoid putting spices, or other items you use while cooking, above the stove. It’s good to avoid having to reach above the stove while it’s in use, to prevent getting burned. Before you start food preparation, take any items you may need off the shelves and out of drawers. That way you’ll have everything you need in a handy spot ready to use.

Your kitchen also needs to be well lit to help you see better. You may want to have a gooseneck or flexible-arm lamp on your countertop. These types of lamps are easy to point in any direction to make sure your workspace is brightly lit. A magnifier can also be helpful in preparing and cooking food.

2. Use Kitchenware With Contrasting Colors

Kitchenware that has high-contrast colors can be easier to see. It can be helpful to have a dark-colored cutting board and a light-colored or white cutting board. That way you can cut items such as onions or potatoes on the dark board, and items such as carrots or tomatoes on the light board. Contrasting colors can also help with measuring spoons and measuring cups. For instance, it’s easier to see flour or sugar in a dark-colored measuring cup.

Some sets of measuring spoons and measuring cups have a color for each size. This can help you identify which measuring item you need.

3. Buy Precut, Frozen, or Canned Foods

You can avoid having to cut fruit and vegetables with a knife by buying your produce precut, frozen, or canned. You can also purchase precut meat or chicken at many grocery stores. Butchers may be able to prepare meat and chicken to your specifications.

When using a knife, make sure to have the blade side down by gently rocking the knife on a cutting board so you don’t have to touch the blade, which can be dangerous. The sharp side of a knife usually is curved, and you can feel it if you rock the knife on the blade. Be sure to use knives with brightly colored handles so that you can clearly distinguish them from the blades.

4. Use Long Oven Mitts, Safety Glasses, and Other Safeguards

Wearing long oven mitts that go up to your elbows can help protect you from burns. Kevlar gloves and finger guards can help protect you from both heat and cuts. Wear safety glasses while cooking so that you can protect your eyes from splattering grease or anything else that might be harmful to your eyes.

Instead of cutting with a knife, you can use kitchen tools, such as a peeler or chopper, as a safer option. Avoid wearing long sleeves or loose clothing while cooking to prevent your clothes from touching the food you’re preparing. Short sleeves are also safer around burners.

You can use bump dots — raised stickers — to mark temperatures on the dials for your stovetop and oven to help ensure that you are cooking at the appropriate temperature. Always place a pot or pan carefully on a burner before you turn it on. Turn the burner off before you remove a pot or pan.

5. Try Assistive Devices and Apps To Make Food Prep Easier

There are many devices and apps available to help people with vision loss, some of which can be helpful in the kitchen. Here are some digital gadgets and apps that can help you with low-vision cooking:

• A “talking” timer, thermometer, scale, or microwave
• Liquid level indicator that lets you know when the liquid reaches the top of a container
• Boil alert disk that rattles when your pot starts boiling
• Text reader apps or virtual assistants such as Google or Alexa to read out recipes or cookbook pages and record grocery lists
• Barcode label makers that can also read labels out loud
• Be My Eyes app and organization to connect you with a sighted volunteer if you need help with something while cooking, such as checking the temperature on your stove

You can learn more about kitchen tools that are helpful for people with vision loss at The Blind Kitchen, where there are videos that demonstrate various gadgets.

6. Plan Your Meals Ahead

Planning meals and shopping carefully can also help you with cooking. Make sure your grocery list covers everything you need, including staples that you consistently use, such as paper towels, sponges, cooking oil, and spices.

If getting to the grocery store is difficult, you may want to use a grocery delivery service. Many grocery stores offer delivery, and some companies specialize in delivered groceries.

7. Consult an Occupational Therapist for Help

Occupational therapy can help you learn to navigate your kitchen and handle cooking tasks safely and confidently. An occupational therapist (OT) can work with you in your home to help you set up your kitchen space so that it’s as easy as possible for you to use. Low-vision OTs are trained specifically to help people with visual impairment with daily tasks like food prep.

Occupational therapy may be right for you if you need help learning to cook safely and comfortably. An OT can work with you to understand your particular needs and routines. They can also help you understand assistive technology that can make cooking easier.

Occupational therapy can help you learn to navigate your kitchen and handle cooking tasks safely and confidently.

Talk to your doctor about a referral for occupational therapy if you are having difficulty cooking with vision loss. Occupational therapy can help you adjust better to a range of daily tasks throughout your home.

You may also benefit from low-vision rehabilitation, which you can discuss in more detail with your ophthalmology care team.

Find Your Team

On myAMDteam, the social network for people with age-related macular degeneration and their loved ones, more than 2,600 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with age-related macular degeneration.

Do you have cooking tips for people living with AMD? Have any devices or apps been especially helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.